U.S. patent application number 13/172846 was filed with the patent office on 2012-07-26 for electonic device and method for varying icon sizes of menu icons.
This patent application is currently assigned to CHI MEI COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS, INC.. Invention is credited to CHIH-PU HSU, CHI LIU-HSU.
Application Number | 20120192111 13/172846 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46545105 |
Filed Date | 2012-07-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120192111 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
HSU; CHIH-PU ; et
al. |
July 26, 2012 |
ELECTONIC DEVICE AND METHOD FOR VARYING ICON SIZES OF MENU
ICONS
Abstract
An electronic device and a method execute variable size function
of menu icons in a user interface. The electronic device can change
the variable menu icon size by an execution status of the menu
icons corresponding to an application in the memory during a time
period. During the time period, if one of the menu icons is not
executed, the one of menu icon size reduces. If one of the menu
icons is executed, the one of menu icon size magnifies. In
addition, the reduction or the magnification of display size of the
menu icons are limited to a maximum value.
Inventors: |
HSU; CHIH-PU; (Tu-Cheng,
TW) ; LIU-HSU; CHI; (Tu-Cheng, TW) |
Assignee: |
CHI MEI COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS,
INC.
Tu-Cheng
TW
|
Family ID: |
46545105 |
Appl. No.: |
13/172846 |
Filed: |
June 30, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
715/821 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 2203/04806
20130101; G06F 3/04817 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
715/821 |
International
Class: |
G06F 3/048 20060101
G06F003/048 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 20, 2011 |
TW |
100102045 |
Claims
1. An electronic device, comprising: a memory; a touch panel; at
least one processor; one or more programs that are stored in the
memory and are executed by the at least one processor, the one or
more programs comprising: a record module operable to save an
execution time of a menu icon corresponding to an application in
the memory; a checking module operable to check an execution status
of the menu icon corresponding to the application in the memory
during a time period; a calculation module operable to calculate a
display icon size of the menu icon by the execution status of the
menu icon; and a display module operable to display the icon size
of the menu icon on the touch panel by the calculated display size
of the menu icon.
2. The electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the time
period is in a unit of a day or in a unit of an hour.
3. The electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
execution status of the menu icon is determined by the execution
time of the menu icon.
4. The electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a
predetermined size of the icon size of the menu icon is set by a
number of the menu icon displayed on the touch panel.
5. The electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the touch
panel is a capacitive panel.
6. The electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the touch
panel is a resistive panel.
7. A method for enabling variable menu icon size displayed in a
user interface using an electronic device, the electronic device
comprising at least one processor, a memory storing applications
and a touch panel receiving contacts, the method comprising: saving
an execution time of a menu icon corresponding to an application in
the memory; checking an execution status of the menu icon
corresponding to the application in the memory during a time
period; calculating a display size of the menu icon by the
execution status of the menu icon; and displaying the icon size of
the menu icon on the touch panel by the calculated display size of
the menu icon.
8. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the time period is in
a unit of a day or in a unit of an hour.
9. The method as claimed in claim 7, further comprising setting a
predetermined size of the icon size of the menu icon by a number of
the menu icon displayed on the touch panel.
10. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the icon size of the
menu icon limits an amplification display size of the menu icon at
200%.
11. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the icon size of the
menu icon limits a reduction of display size of the menu icon at
50%.
12. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the touch panel is a
capacitive panel.
13. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the touch panel is a
resistive panel.
14. A storage storing a set of instructions, the set of
instructions capable of being executed by a processor to perform a
method for enabling variable menu icon size displayed in a user
interface using an electronic device, the electronic device
comprising at least one processor, a memory storing applications
and a touch panel receiving contacts, the method comprising: saving
an execution time of a menu icon corresponding to an application in
the memory; checking an execution status of the menu icon
corresponding to the application in the memory during a time
period; calculating a display size of the menu icon by the
execution status of the menu icon; and displaying the icon size of
the menu icon on the touch panel by the calculated display size of
the menu icon.
15. The storage medium as claimed in claim 14, wherein the time
period is in a unit of a day or in a unit of an hour.
16. The storage medium as claimed in claim 14, wherein the method
further comprising setting a predetermined size of the icon size of
the menu icon by a number of the menu icon displayed on the touch
panel.
17. The storage medium as claimed in claim 14, wherein the icon
size of the menu icon limits an amplification display size of the
menu icon at 200%.
18. The storage medium as claimed in claim 14, wherein the icon
size of the menu icon limits a reduction of display size of the
menu icon at 50%.
19. The storage medium as claimed in claim 14, wherein the touch
panel is a capacitive panel.
20. The storage medium as claimed in claim 14, wherein the touch
panel is a resistive panel.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] 1. Technical Field
[0002] Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a user
interface of an electronic device, and more particularly to a
method for varying icon sizes of the menu icons displayed in the
user interface and the electronic device using the same.
[0003] 2. Description of Related Art
[0004] Touch panels are utilized in many electronic devices,
providing an improved input means with advantages of convenience
and ease of use over typical keypad-style input. Most popular
electronic devices adopt an icon menu as a user interface for
operation. However, it is difficult to find a menu icon
corresponding to an executable application in a menu if there are
many icons displayed on the user interface. What is needed, is a
system and method to overcome the limitations described.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of one embodiment of an electronic
device comprising a menu icon adjustment system.
[0006] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a menu displayed in the
user interface of FIG. 1 having menu icons with a predetermined
size.
[0007] FIG. 3-FIG. 4 are schematic diagrams of the menu displayed
in the user interface of FIG. 1 having menu icons with variable
sizes.
[0008] FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating one embodiment of a
method for varying icon sizes of the menu icons displayed in the
user interface using an electronic device.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0009] The application is illustrated by way of example and not by
way of limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings in
which like references indicate similar elements. It should be noted
that references to "an" or "one" embodiment in this disclosure are
not necessarily to the same embodiment, and such references mean at
least one.
[0010] In general, the word "module" as used hereinafter, refers to
logic embodied in hardware or firmware, or to a collection of
software instructions, written in a programming language, such as,
Java, C, or assembly. One or more software instructions in the
modules may be embedded in firmware, such as EPROM. The modules
described herein may be implemented as either software and/or
hardware modules and may be stored in any type of non-transitory
computer-readable medium or other storage device. Some non-limiting
examples of non-transitory computer-readable media include CDs,
DVDs, BLU-RAY, flash memory, and hard disk drives.
[0011] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of one embodiment of an electronic
device 1 comprising a menu icon adjustment system 10. The
electronic device 1 further comprises a memory 20, a touch panel
30, and at least one processor 40. The touch panel 30 is capable of
displaying multiple menu icons on a user interface. Each menu icon
displayed on the touch panel 30 is linked to a corresponding
application stored in the memory 20. The electronic device 1 can
vary icon sizes of the menu icons on the touch panel 30 using the
menu icon adjustment system 10.
[0012] The electronic device 1 is generally controlled and
coordinated by operating system software, such as the UNIX, Linux,
Windows 95, 98, NT, 2000, XP, Vista, Mac OS X, an embedded
operating system, or any other compatible operating systems. In
other embodiments, the electronic device 1 may be controlled by a
proprietary operating system. Conventional operating systems
control and schedule computer processes for execution, perform
memory management, provide file system, networking, and I/O
services, and provide a user interface, such as a graphical user
interface (GUI), among other things.
[0013] The memory 20 is electronically connected to the menu icon
adjustment system 10, the touch panel 30 and the at least one
processor 40. The memory 20 is operable to store many kinds of
data, such as a customization function code of the electronic
device 1, computerized codes of the menu icon adjustment system 10,
programs of an operating system and other applications of the
electronic device 1. The memory 20 may include a hard disk drive,
flash memory, RAM, ROM, cache, or external storage mediums.
[0014] The touch panel 30 is operable to detect at least one
contact (e.g., a finger, stylus) on the touch panel 30 and generate
and send at least one coordinate value of the at least one contact
on the touch panel 30 to the menu icon adjustment system 10. In one
embodiment, a user can contact the touch panel 30 using one or more
finger contacts. For example, the touch panel 30 can detect one or
more contacts in two or three locations on the touch panel 30 at
the same time to generate two or three coordinate values of the one
or more contacts to the menu icon adjustment system 10. In some
embodiments, a stylus can be used with the touch panel 30. In
addition, the touch panel 30 further displays information received
from the menu icon adjustment system 10, the memory 20 and the at
least one processor 40.
[0015] The at least one processor 40 is operable to execute one or
more computerized codes of the menu icon adjustment system 10 may
be stored in the memory 20 and executed by the at least one
processor 40. The at least one processor 40, as an example, may
include a CPU, math coprocessor, or shift register.
[0016] The menu icon adjustment system 10 includes a record module
101, a checking module 103, a calculation module 105 and a display
module 107. The menu icon adjustment system 10 is configured to
connect to the memory 20, the touch panel 30, and the processor 40.
The menu icon adjustment system 10 is operable to vary icon sizes
of the menu icons on the touch panel 30 of the electronic device
1.
[0017] The record module 101 is operable to save an execution time
of the menu icon corresponding to the application in the memory 20.
In one embodiment, when the user uses a finger or a stylus to
contact the menu icon displayed in the user interface, the record
module 101 saves the time as the execution time of the menu icon
contacted in the memory 20. In other embodiments, the execution
time of the menu icon can be in a unit of a day or in a unit of an
hour.
[0018] The checking module 103 is operable to check an execution
status of the menu icon corresponding to the application in the
memory 20 during a time period. In one embodiment, the execution
status of the menu icon indicates that the menu icon is executed.
The execution status of the menu icon can be executed or not
executed. The execution status of the menu icon can be determined
by the execution time of the menu icon. For example, if there is a
record of the execution time during the time period, the execution
status of the menu icon is executed. Otherwise, there is no record
of the execution time during the time period, the execution status
of the menu icon is not executed.
[0019] The calculation module 105 is operable to calculate a
display size of the menu icon by the execution status of the menu
icon. In one embodiment, the calculation module 105 calculates the
display size of the menu icon when the touch panel 30 is turned on.
If the time period is set in the unit of a day, the calculation
module 105 calculates the display size of the menu icon at a
certain time, such as 12:00 am. Each menu icon has a predetermined
size displayed on the touch panel 30. As shown in FIG. 2, the
predetermined size of the menu icon is preset by a visual size of
the area displayed on the touch panel 30 divided by a number of the
menu icon.
[0020] As shown in FIG. 3, if the checking module 103 determines
the menu icon 15 corresponding to the application in the memory is
executed on the first day. The calculation module 105 calculates
the display size of the menu icon 15 which is increased by 15% on
the second day than an original display size of the menu icon 15 on
the first day. The display size of the menu icon 15 on the second
day (Icon 15 shown in FIG. 3) becomes a 115% of the size of the
display size of the menu icon 15 on the first day (Icon 15 shown in
FIG. 2).
[0021] For more examples, if the menu icon 15 is continually
executed on the third day. The calculation module 105 calculates
the display size of the menu icon 15 which is increased by 15% on
the third day (Icon 15 shown in FIG. 4) than the display size of
the menu icon 15 on the second day (Icon 15 shown in FIG. 3).
Accordingly, the display size of the menu icon 15 on the third day
is 132% of the display size (Icon 15 shown in FIG. 4) to the
display size of the first day (Icon 15 shown in FIG. 2). In
addition, an amplification display size of the menu icon limits at
200%.
[0022] In other embodiments, if the checking module 103 determines
the menu icon 4 corresponding to the application in the memory is
not executed on the first day. The calculation module 105
calculates the display size of the menu icon 4 which is decreased
by 15% on the second day (Icon 4 shown in FIG. 3) than an original
display size of the menu icon 4 on the first day (Icon 4 shown in
FIG. 2). The display size of the menu icon 4 on the second day
(Icon 4 shown in FIG. 3) becomes 85% of the display size to the
display size of the menu icon 4 on the first day (Icon 4 shown in
FIG. 2).
[0023] For more examples, if the menu icon 4 is not executed on the
third day. The calculation module 105 calculates the display size
of the menu icon 4 which is decreased by 15% on the third day (Icon
4 shown in FIG. 4) than the display size of the menu icon 4 (Icon 4
shown in FIG. 3) on the second day. Accordingly, the display size
of the menu icon 4 on the third day (Icon 4 shown in FIG. 4) is 72%
of the display size to the display size of the menu icon 4 on the
first day (Icon 4 shown in FIG. 2). In addition, a reduction of
display size of the menu icon limits at 50%.
[0024] In other embodiments, if the time period is set in the unit
of an hour, the calculation module 105 calculates the display size
of the menu icon 15 on each hour, such as 1:00 am, or 2:00 am.
Accordingly, if the checking module 103 determines the menu icon 15
is executed at the first hour, the calculation module 105
calculates 115% of the display size of the menu icon 15 on the
second hour (Icon 15 shown in FIG. 3) to the display size of the
menu icon 15 on the first hour (Icon 15 shown in FIG. 2). For other
examples, if the checking module 103 determines the menu icon 4 is
not executed on the first hour. The calculation module 105
calculates 85% of the display size of the menu icon 4 on the second
hour (Icon 4 shown in FIG. 3) to the display size of the menu icon
4 on first hour (Icon 4 shown in FIG. 2).
[0025] The display module 107 is operable to display the icon size
of the menu icon by the calculated display size of the menu icon by
the calculation module 105. In one embodiment, the display module
107 displays the icon size of the menu icon each day if the time
period is set to the unit of a day. In other embodiments, the
display module 107 displays the icon size of the menu icon each
hour if the time period is set in the unit of an hour.
[0026] FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating one embodiment of a
method for varying icon sizes of the menu icons displayed in the
user interface using the electronic device 1. Depending on the
embodiment, additional blocks may be added, others deleted, and the
ordering of blocks may be changed.
[0027] In block S10, the record module 101 saves an execution time
of the menu icon corresponding to the application in the memory 20.
In one embodiment, when the user uses a finger or a stylus to
contact the menu icon displayed in the user interface, the record
module 101 saves the time as the execution time of the menu icon
contacted in the memory 20. In other embodiments, the execution
time of the menu icon can be in a unit of a day or in a unit of an
hour.
[0028] In block S12, the checking module 103 checks an execution
status of the menu icon corresponding to the application in the
memory 20 during a time period. In one embodiment, the execution
status of the menu icon indicates that the menu icon is executed.
The execution status of the menu icon can be executed or not
executed. The execution status of the menu icon can be determined
by the execution time of the menu icon. For example, if there is a
record of the execution time during the time period, the execution
status of the menu icon is executed. Otherwise, there is no record
of the execution time during the time period, the execution status
of the menu icon is not executed.
[0029] In block S14, the calculation module 105 calculates a
display size of the menu icon by the execution status of the menu
icon contacted.
[0030] In block S16, the display module 107 displays the icon size
of the menu icon by the calculated display size of the menu icon.
In one embodiment, the display module 107 displays the icon size of
the menu icon each day if the time period is set to the unit of a
day. In other embodiments, the display module 107 displays the icon
size of the menu icon each hour if the time period is set in the
unit of an hour.
[0031] Although certain inventive embodiments of the present
disclosure have been specifically described, the present disclosure
is not to be construed as being limited thereto. Various changes or
modifications may be made to the present disclosure without
departing from the scope and spirit of the present disclosure.
* * * * *